Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-05-27
A MYSTERIOUS SHOT.
Saved by an Unknown Friend-A Spy's Story
| of the DAYS of the Rebellion.

| saved by an Unknown Friend-A Spy's Story
| of the DAYS of the Rebellion.
During Braggss occupation of Mission
ridge and Lookout mountain l was con-
nected with the army of the Tennessee
as scout, and in seeking to re-enter the
city after trip lasting four DAYS l was
captured on the Rossville road, about
three miles from Snodgrass hill, around
which the battle eff Chickamausa ragged
| so fiercely. The whole country was full
of rebel soldiers, scouts aud bushwhack-
ers, and was moving through the woods
with the utmost care, thinking to get as
near to our lines as possible before dark,
| when man in butternut clothes sudden
ly stepped out in front of me from be-
hind large tree, lifted a shotgun to an
aim and called oat:
stand right thar, or I'll blow the top
of yer head Off"
WAS more than q scout was spy.
That Is, was in semi-resel uniform and
within the euemy's lines, and any drum
head court-martisl would sentence me to
death. was not altogether prepared
for the meeting, having realized the
probability, and as the gun covered me l
answered this man in what l tried to make
| steady voice:
If its all the same to you l prefer to
sit down, for I'm clean beat ont with
hard work"
sat down on a log and looked up at
him. He was man about 10 years of
age, tall, gaunt and fierce looking, and
from the cut cf his clothes took him to
be a member of some predatory rebel
band which had been called in for the
time being and assigned with the regu-
lar troops. He might, however, have
been regular scout, or bushwhacker
working on his own hook At this point
We were between the rebel front and the
plckets and outposts, and in a very thick
wood. The time was O'Clock in the af-
ternoon.
AS sat down the man lowered his
gun and stood leaning on it for minute
while he surveyed me. Then 1 noticed
that he had been drinking, and was what
Is termed ugly drunk. His eyes were
bloodshot, his face covered with scowls,
and it was plain enoagh that he was ripe
for murder.
"Who be your" he demanded, in a gruff
voice.
John Thomas, scout for General
Bragg. Who are you?"
$50 you know Gineral Bragg, eh?"
Certainly
Yes. Who are your"
None O. yer id bizness" he ex-
claimed after regarding me for full half
minute.
well, l don't care. What are you doing
here in the woods"
80 you know Gineral Bragg, eh?" he
queried, coming little closer.
Il told you l did. I'm goiHg to his
headquarters now"
'Oh, you be? Mebbe you'd be so kind
as to pint out whar' them headquarters
are?"
81 would if I could, but haven't found
'em yet"
Il thought so! And so you know the
gineral by sight?"
81 do"
"Mebbe You'd be so kind and so con
| descendin' as to describe him to me!'
He had me there. l had never heard
the generals looks passed upon, and l
realized that the chances were not one
in twenty that could hit him.
"Well, I'm waiting" growled the man,
after a moment.
ooh, your" I sneered, changing my
tone and demeanor. Now then l want
to know all about you. I've been think
| ing you a Yankee spy. 1 ought to take
you back to the lines"
He! he! he" chucked the fellow, as he
leered at me. Say Yankee, you amt
half smart! l knewed you on sight and
your voice gave you away!'
Don't Yank' mel | Indignantly ex-
claimed. you come along to the picket
post and I'll find out who you are!'
started to rise up, but be lifted his
gun to his face and growled along the
| barrel:
"You've got just thirty seconds to live
and you'd better do some tall praying!'
He meant murder. l could see it in
his eyes and read it in his face. Whether
he really took me for Yankee spy, or
whether he wanted to kill me out of pure
| cussedness and for the sake of plumber,
know not, but he certainly meant to kill.
He had my head covered with his aim,
finger on the trigger, and was apparently
counting off the seconds allowed me,
when he suddenly Strengthened up drop
| ping his gun, threw up his arms and fell
forward at my feet. AS he was falling, /
| heard the report of gun not far sway,
and knew that the man had been shot.
sprang up and took refuge behind a
large tree, and though waited and watch
| ed for half an hour no enc appeared, nor
could l detect movement. l crept on
hands and knees to the stiffening corpse
and saw that the man had been shot in the
| back. l took the shot back to tree 200
| feet away, and there found footprints
| where the shooter had stood. Who he
| was, why he had fired the shot, and which
| way he went are matters which | have
never been able to solve.